Global Cold Chain News

Greening the fleet

9th July 2018

London, UK: The UK government has set out a range of measures to encourage the uptake of low-emission vehicles including a short-term target to reduce carbon emissions from HGVs by 15% in 2025 against a 2015 baseline.

The Freight Transport Association’s head of UK policy, Christopher Snelling said, “we think this target is challenging, given that, in reality, there are only seven years left to achieve it, but if the right things are done it can be delivered.|”

But the Road to Zero strategy published today by the Department for Transport recognises that diesel will be remain the prime fuel heavy goods vehicles.

Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association said that any transition away from diesel “will need to be carefully managed and industry led”.

“In the short to medium term it will need to focus on alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas and cmpressed natural gas rather than electric HGVs.”

The association’s commercial vehicle division hopes that the government’s desire for at least half of new vans to be ultra-low emission by 2030, does not place an excessive burden on small and large businesses that require vans to keep the country functioning.

“We will continue to engage with government on the move from LCVs and HGVs to alternative cleaner fuel options to ensure it is steady and manageable transition,” Robinson said.